Why couldn't Ottoman Egypt defeat Ethiopia? https://en.

>>3318382
Why couldn't Italy beat Ethiopia?

>>3318382
They could
It's John Kirkham they couldnt defeat

>>3318387
Unironically because the Italian government didn't think the Ethiopians could muster such an army. The Generals warned that they should approach cautiously but the Gov severely underestimated the Ethiopians

>General Oreste Baratieri, commander of the Italian forces, knew the Ethiopian forces had been living off the land, and once the supplies of the local peasants were exhausted, Emperor Menelik the second's army would begin to melt away. However, the Italian government insisted that General Baratieri act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adwa

Other factors were obviously important but its a really good case of underestimating your opponent and it costing you everything

>>3318408
>Kirkham's men fought again during the invasion of Ethiopia by Egypt that began in October 1875. They played a part in an initial skirmish at Kesad-Ikka, but Kirkham was late arriving at the critical Battle of Gundet next day (16 November 1875). This battle saw the decisive defeat of the Egyptian army commanded by the Danish adventurer Colonel Arrendrup by Yohannes's general Ras Alula Engida. Kirkham's failure to reach the battle site in time to take part in the fighting cost him much of his prestige, some Ethiopian officers describing him as "an old woman" for his dilatoriness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kirkham_(adventurer)

He did help initially train the army though

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>>3318382
>1870s
>Ottoman Egypt.
Egypt was virtually independent by this time thanks to some Albanian-born General.

anglo meddling

They feared the black warrior

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>>3318382
>the Swiss were involved in an African war

>>3318382
They should have feared the black warrior

>>3318382
They showed great fear of melanine-enriched fighter.

>>3318450
*Russian meddling
The Russians had far more to do with it

>>3318382
>19th century Ottomans
>Defeat anything

ITT ridiculous scenarios